Nutrition For Mortals

What if the secret to living longer was simply… eating less? Nearly a century ago, researchers discovered that severely restricting calories could dramatically extend the lives of laboratory animals. Decades later, a small but devoted group of people decided they didn’t want to wait around to find out whether it worked in humans. What followed was one of the strangest chapters in the history of longevity science: a charismatic researcher, eight people sealed inside a dome, an online community devoted to eating as little as possible without becoming malnourished, and eventually a landmark human trial that put calorie restriction to the test. So join us, two registered dietitians, as we trace the rise of the Calorie Restriction Society, the science that inspired it, and discuss what happened when humans actually tried eating less in the hopes of living longer.Want to support the show and get bonus episodes EVERY MONTH? Join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortalsLeave us a voicemail that may be featured on a future episode! Call us at (562)-N4M-POD1 (562-646-7631). Share a story! Suggest an episode topic! We’ve got MERCH! Check it out HEREDon’t want to miss any episodes in the future? Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!Things we talked about and additional reading: 1935 McCay StudyRoy Walford Study #1Roy Walford Study #2Roy Walford Study #3120 Year Diet1992 Biosphere ArticleNutrition in The BiosphereCalorie Restriction Society FoundingCALERIE StudyCalorie Restriction Article #1Calorie Restriction Article #2Biosphere News CoverageArchived CR Society WebsiteFor feedback or to suggest a show topic email us at [email protected] free to contact our real, live nutrition counseling practice**This podcast is for information purposes only, is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice, and does not constitute a patient-provider relationship**

For decades, oatmeal has been the poster child for a heart-healthy breakfast: inexpensive, filling, packed with fiber, and boring enough that no one really thought to argue about it. But lately, the internet has decided that oatmeal might actually be… bad for you. Depending on which influencer you ask, oats are loaded with lectins and “antinutrients,” they spike your blood sugar, and are actually little more than “peasant food” that we’ve somehow been tricked into eating. So how did one of the most ordinary foods in America suddenly become so controversial? And is there any truth behind these claims? So join us, two registered dietitians, as we wade into the surprisingly heated war on oatmeal, unpack some of the biggest claims being made online, and find out what the science actually says about the humble oat.Want to support the show and get bonus episodes EVERY MONTH? Join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortalsLeave us a voicemail that may be featured on a future episode! Call us at (562)-N4M-POD1 (562-646-7631). Share a story! Suggest an episode topic! We’ve got MERCH! Check it out HEREDon’t want to miss any episodes in the future? Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!Things we talked about and additional reading: Food Labeling: Health Claims; Oats and CHDEffects of Oats on GI HealthReview of the Effects of Oat Intake of GI Health Phytic Acid and Whole Grains for Health Controversy Mitigating Anti-Nutrients in Oats Through Processing Regular Consumption of High-Phytate Diet Reduces Inhibitory Effect of Phytates on Nonheme-Iron Absorption Phytates as a Natural Source for Health Promotion Impact of Oats on Appetite Hormones and Body Weight Mgmt Consuming Two Eggs Per Day vs. Oatmeal Breakfast Cholesterol-lowering Effects of Oat Beta-Glucan Beta-Glucans of Cereals: Functional and Technological Properties Review of Health-Beneficial Properties of Oats Nurses Health Study: Intake of Whole Grain Foods and Risk of CHDImpact of Oat Processing Glycemic/Insulin Responses Keto-Med Randomized Crossover Trial Dietary Compliance During Ketogenic Program Review/Meta-Analysis of RCTs on Effects of Oat Processing on BG and Insulin Responses For feedback or to suggest a show topic email us at [email protected] free to contact our real, live nutrition counseling practice**This podcast is for information purposes only, is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice, and does not constitute a patient-provider relationship**

For a while, the glycemic index seemed like it might change everything we thought we knew about carbohydrates. Suddenly, foods weren’t just “healthy” or “unhealthy”—they came with a number predicting how dramatically they would raise your blood sugar. What started as a tool for diabetes management soon became the foundation for bestselling diets, low-GI foods, and a whole new way of thinking about carbs. And then… we mostly stopped talking about it. So join us, two registered dietitians, as we trace the surprising rise and fall of the glycemic index, why it became such a nutrition phenomenon, and what it can—and can’t—actually tell us about the food we eat.Want to support the show and get bonus episodes EVERY MONTH? Join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortalsLeave us a voicemail that may be featured on a future episode! Call us at (562)-N4M-POD1 (562-646-7631). Share a story! Suggest an episode topic! We’ve got MERCH! Check it out HEREDon’t want to miss any episodes in the future? Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!Things we talked about and additional reading: American Diabetes AssociationExchange System Dine Out and Lose Weight1993 Time Mag ArticleThe South Beach DietJenkins 1981 Glycemic Index Study1997 Glycemic Load PaperExchange System for Meal PlanningGlycemic Load and Diabetes RiskGI/GL and Health RisksFor feedback or to suggest a show topic email us at [email protected] free to contact our real, live nutrition counseling practice**This podcast is for information purposes only, is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice, and does not constitute a patient-provider relationship**

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Long before chiropractors were selling supplements, hormone protocols and detoxes on social media, the field of chiropractic had already mastered something surprisingly familiar: convincing people that mainstream medicine was missing the real cause of their health problems. More than a century later, chiropractic has changed enormously—but some of its earliest ideas about natural healing, medical distrust, and treating the “root cause” of disease sound remarkably similar to the language of today’s wellness influencers. So join us, two registered dietitians, as we travel from magnetic healing and the first chiropractic adjustment to supplement empires and TikTok nutrition gurus—and explore how the strange history of chiropractic helps explain some of the biggest nutrition grifts on the internet today.Want to support the show and get bonus episodes EVERY MONTH? Join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortalsLeave us a voicemail that may be featured on a future episode! Call us at (562)-N4M-POD1 (562-646-7631). Share a story! Suggest an episode topic! We’ve got MERCH! Check it out HEREDon’t want to miss any episodes in the future? Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!Things we talked about and additional reading: Historical Review of The First Spinal AdjustmentThe Science of Chiropractic by B.J. Palmer Principles and Practice of Chiropractic Chiropractic Origins, Controversies, and Contributions The Religion of Chiropractic by Holly FolkTrick or Treatment by Ersnt and SinghForrest Shaklee Documentary Shaklee Website Shaklee Corporation Sales Mgmt Doc circa 1984The Committee on Quackery Wilk Vs AMA Matt Interviews Dr Eric Berg’s SonAre Chiropractors Even Able to Identify Spinal Subluxations? Efficacy of Manipulation for Chronic Low Back Pain Chiropractors Talk About the Problems With Their Field’s History For feedback or to suggest a show topic email us at [email protected] free to contact our real, live nutrition counseling practice**This podcast is for information purposes only, is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice, and does not constitute a patient-provider relationship**

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According to Fast Like a Girl, women have been fasting all wrong. Written by chiropractor and wellness influencer Dr. Mindy Pelz, this bestselling book promises to teach women how to fast in a way that “works with” their hormones—by syncing fasting windows, carbs, and even specific foods to different phases of the menstrual cycle. There’s “ketobiotic” eating, “hormone feasting,” six different types of fasts, and, for the particularly ambitious, a 72-hour fast that Pelz claims can help reboot your immune system. It’s an impressively detailed roadmap. There’s just one question: does the science actually support it? So join us, two registered dietitians, as we venture into the complicated world of fasting and female hormones to find out whether your menstrual cycle really needs its own fasting schedule.Want to support the show and get bonus episodes? Join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortalsLeave us a voicemail that may be featured on a future episode! Call us at (562)-N4M-POD1 (562-646-7631).We’ve got MERCH! Check it out HEREDon’t want to miss any episodes in the future? Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!Things we talked about and additional reading: Mindy Pelz WebsiteFast Like A Girl BookFasting and FertilityNutrition and Chronic Fatigue SyndromePCOS, Fasting And FertilityMore on PhytoestrogensPhytoestrogens and HormonesFiber and Estrogen MetabolismSoy and EstrogenSoy, Hormones, and MenopauseDietary Intake and the Menstrual CycleFasting and Hormone LevelsEndocrine Adaptations to Prolonged FastingIF and Female Reproductive FunctionFor feedback or to suggest a show topic email us at [email protected] free to contact our real, live nutrition counseling practice**This podcast is for information purposes only, is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice, and does not constitute a patient-provider relationship**

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This episode was originally released 4/29/2026Want to support the show and get bonus episodes EVERY MONTH? ⁠⁠Join our Patreon!⁠⁠Don’t want to miss any episodes in the future? Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!And if you are looking for the support of a registered dietitian you can always contact our ⁠⁠real, live nutrition counseling practice⁠⁠, Oceanside Nutrition to learn more about working with us! **This podcast is for information purposes only, is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice, and does not constitute a patient-provider relationship**

Head to our Patreon to hear the rest of this episode and dozens of other full-length bonus episodes for only $3!